Story posted Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Always Involved
Remembering Mt. Prospect Youth Coach, Dad, Husband Vince Weidner
Weidner
By BOBBY CHILVER Journal Sports
A Mt. Prospect resident and longtime youth baseball and softball coach passed away suddenly last Friday while umpiring a softball game in Des Plaines.
Vincent Weidner, 56, collapsed just before the start of a Mt. Prospect Park District youth softball game at High Ridge Knolls Park. He was rushed to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Hts. but was pronounced dead shortly after. The cause of death was ruled to be a heart attack.
Weidner was an avid sports fan and was always quick to get involved with his childrens' athletic programs. He began coaching his son Timothy and continued through daughter Sheri's teams. Timothy was a 1998 graduate of Prospect High School and Sheri followed in 2008.
"He was always involved with their sports and coached whenever he could," wife Jeanne said.
"Coach 'W' taught not only softball skills, but life lessons to the girls of the Mt. Prospect Stars, Rockets, Fire and all the players in the Mt. Prospect Softball League," fellow coach Tom Michelotti said.
When he wasn't on the sidelines coaching, Weidner was in the stands watching his children proudly. Jeanne said he might have missed only one or two games in Tim and Sheri's entire athletic careers.
As his kids moved onto high school, Weidner began umpiring local softball and baseball games, as well as basketball games, to stay involved. Jeanne said his love for the rules and great ability to remember all of them made officiating an enjoyable experience.
"He really loved that," she said.
Weidner also loved children and his knack for leadership landed him a bus driver's position with Mt. Prospect Elementary School Dist. 57.
"He was a very much loved and appreciated bus driver,"
Jeanne said, noting he was always coming home with gifts and pictures from the kids.
"He was a very loving man that influenced so many people in a very good way," Jeanne said. "He was a father that took great pride in his children and cared for them very much."
Talk of naming a diamond at Busse Park in Mt. Prospect in Weidner's honor has taken place, but details remain sketchy as league officials were not available Monday.
Visitation took place Tuesday at Friedrichs Funeral Home in Mt. Prospect. A funeral is scheduled for 11 a.m. today (Wednesday) at Grace Lutheran Church. Interment will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery.
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